Reuter, Markus: Kopfmensch

Art/Avant Garde Rock

3.5/5.0

Touch guitarist Mark Reuter's Kopfmensch (German for 'human head') comes via Unsung Productions, a consortium, of sorts, of other touch guitarists including Texans Adrian Benavides and Eric Morris. Markus Reuter's history, whether by musical development, studio production, or live performance, is quite deep and expansive. He's been working with the touch guitar since 1993. (If you don't know what the 'touch guitar' is or the associated techniques with the instrument, then search Wikipedia.)

Markus Reuter: with touch guitar of choice.

Kopfmensch is compilation of 16 tracks selected from his extensive career, which includes work with such acts and artists as centrozoon, Tuner, Europa String Choir, Tim Motzer, Adrian Benavides, and Stick Men. That last group is lead by Tony Levin, a pioneer in the use of the Chapman Stick, another touch guitar.

It's all rather eclectic material across the board, art or progressive rock would be descriptive enough. It's mostly Reuter using his skills and imagination to coax interesting sounds from his guitar, both traditional and unusual. There's sometimes an ambient quality to the songs. You get this from the start with History and Absalom It's often heady and esoteric, not exactly material for the radio, but maybe for cafe or a wine and cheese party. But I digress. 11:11, a rather lengthy piece offers the ambience, but may strike a more familiar chord with those who like eccentric prog. It's pleasingly weird, especially with the underlying narration. Creepy.

Mark Reuter's Kopfmensch offers much to consume and understand as it's rather avant garde music. If your tastes run towards the mainstream or conventional, it's likely you won't enjoy this material. For others, notably those on the art and prog side of things, they'll get it, if they can wade through it.

Mark Reuter's Kopfmensch offers much to consume and understand as it's rather avant garde music. If your tastes run towards the mainstream or conventional, it's likely you won't enjoy this material. For others, notably those on the art and prog side of things, they'll get it, if they can wade through it.